Temporary restraining orders are a powerful tool in environmental or agricultural litigation.  For a party that is considering a TRO, it has the power to immediately halt excavation of a pit, stop construction of barns, or prevent the imposition of a new regulation.  For a party facing a TRO, violation of such an order can lead to steep fines, being held in contempt of court, and a multitude of other punishments.

Swampbuster is the term used for the federal law that discourages farmers from altering wetlands by withholding federal farm program benefits from any person who: (1) plants an agricultural commodity on a converted wetland that was converted by drainage, dredging, leveling, or any other means; or (2) converts a wetland for the purpose of or to make agricultural commodity production possible. 

I recently wrote an article for the Indiana Agricultural Law Foundation Spotlight newsletter that focused on important considerations in land application agreements. These are the agreements used when a confined feeding operation ("CFO") applies manure to land not owned by the CFO. 

One central law in approaching wetlands in agricultural areas is the Clean Water Act ("CWA"). 33 USC § 1251 et seq. The CWA allows the EPA to enforce its provisions and provides for citizen suits. Non-compliance with the CWA can lead to fines and lawsuits. Farmers should make sure they are not violating the CWA anytime they move dirt on their farm.